Workers’ Compensation

Overview
Workers’ Compensation is “insurance” paid in full by UCF that provides coverage to an employee for a job-related injury or illness from the very first day of employment. Employees, who are injured or become ill due to the conditions of their job, receive partial income replacement and/or payment of expenses for medically necessary services under Workers’ Compensation. Job-related illnesses or injuries are not covered under the State Self-Insured Plan or any of the health maintenance organizations in the State Health Insurance Program. Claims for job-related conditions should not be filed under any of these plans. Employees sustaining a job related injury or illness must follow current procedures. The following information is provided for all employees including OPS and student assistants.

AmeriSys is the medical case manager for all Workers’ Compensation claims.

Any time an accident or an injury occurs, whether or not the employee wishes to seek medical care, it must be reported to AmeriSys. This should be done by the supervisor and employee, if available, as soon as possible.

Workers’ Compensation Leave, Timesheets, and Payroll Certification
Should a USPS, A&P or Faculty employee lose time from work, the first seven (7) days or forty (40) intermittent hours should be charged to disability with pay (DIS) on the time card. DIS is paid by the university and should not be charged to the employee’s accrued leave. If the employee returns to work within the first seven (7) calendar days and has not used the entire forty (40) DIS hours immediately following the date of the accident, s/he may use DIS on the date of the accident and may use the remaining DIS hours intermittently for doctor visits, physical therapy, etc. Once the intermittent DIS hours are exhausted, the employee must use his/her accrued leave for doctor visits, physical therapy, etc.

If the employee is unable to return to work within the first seven (7) calendar days following the date of the accident, s/he shall be eligible for the full forty (40) hours of DIS; however, s/he may not use DIS on the date of the accident. Beginning on the eighth day of disability, the employee will be paid by the Division of Risk Management two-thirds (2/3) of his/her salary under workers’ compensation (WC). WC pays 5.25 hours per day of an 8-hour day. The employee is eligible to supplement his/her WC wages with 2.75 hours of sick leave, annual leave, or accrued compensation time.

WC hours are not calculated in the “total hours paid at base rate,” i.e., those hours are not certified for UCF wages. Only personal leave, disability with pay (DIS), accrued compensation leave, and actual hours worked should be certified when an employee is out on workers’ compensation. The employee will continue to accrue annual and sick leave at the full rate. Those employed as student assistants, Other Personal Services (OPS), or as adjuncts are not eligible for disability with pay leave. Workers’ compensation payments will begin on the eighth day of disability at a rate of two-thirds (2/3) salary. After twenty-one (21) consecutive days of authorized absence from work, the employee will be paid retroactively for the first seven days of disability.

International Travel Resources and InsuranceFaculty and Staff preparing to travel outside the United States on university sponsored trips should review the available resources and must register ahead of time. While traveling, report any work related injury or illness promptly to your supervisor. For medical referrals, treatment or evacuations, please contact the insurance company directly; contact information and resources are available in the above link. When treatment is sought using sources other than the Travel Insurance, please obtain an itemized bill so you can file a claim for reimbursement upon your return. Please file any Travel Insurance claim and report the injury to AmeriSys within one week of your return to the USA.